Nova Minerals Corp Chief Executive Officer Christopher Gerteisen met with United States Department of Energy officials during an invite-only roundtable in Fairbanks, Alaska, to brief the government on progress at the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project.

Discussions centred on the company's development of a vertically integrated domestic antimony supply chain, including the production of military-grade antimony trisulfide. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright reiterated the importance of the Estelle project to national critical minerals objectives.

Secretary Wright also discussed upcoming department initiatives aimed at improving power generation capability and transmission infrastructure across Alaska. Those measures are intended to support operations at Estelle, including planned phase two expansions for the company's military-grade antimony trisulfide strategy.

Operations at the Alaskan site are fully funded by a US$43.4 million Department of War award supporting the establishment of a domestic supply chain. A barge carrying approximately 500 tons of crushing, ore sorting, milling, flotation, and refining equipment is scheduled to arrive at Port MacKenzie in early September 2026. Construction will begin upon arrival, with phase one antimony trisulfide production targeted for 2027.

Field activities are currently underway at Estelle for the 2026 season, with three diamond drill rigs operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nova Minerals previously welcomed an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump supporting domestic critical minerals capacity and defense supply chains.

“Nova Minerals' participation in the U.S. Department of Energy roundtable emphasizes the strategic importance the U.S Government has placed on our Alaskan Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and its fast-tracked antimony production for the domestic supply chain.”

“Antimony is essential to our national and economic security, with applications in defence, energy storage, and electronics. Roundtable discussions reinforced the critical role antimony production from Estelle will have in supporting U.S. critical minerals security.”

— Christopher Gerteisen, CEO

Chief Executive Officer Christopher Gerteisen emphasized that participation in the roundtable highlights the strategic value placed on the project's fast-tracked antimony production.

Read the full announcement: Nova Attends Roundtable with U.S. Department of Energy